Switch-target.



W. R. RYAN.

SWIITCH TARGET. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25. 1915.

1,178,265. Patented Apr. 4,1916.

XVILLIA'M It. -R-YAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SWITCH-TARGET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fatented Apr. at, 1916:.

Application filed June 25, 1915. Serial No. 36,263.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM R.RYAN, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SwitchTargets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to switch targets such as are used particularly inrailway switch yards.

Injury frequently results to switchmen or brakemen engaged about switchyards by reason of the fact that the signal blades and lamps of the.switch targets in use at the present time project upwardly from theswitch post to such a height as to be in the way of switchmen orbrakemen hanging on the sides of moving freight trains.

It is the object of this invention to provide anattachment for switchposts adapted to accommodate the signal blades and lantern of a switchtarget, in which the signal lamp will be arranged so as to be readilyobservable but at the same time positioned close to the upper end of thepost and therefore out of the way of the switchmen and brakemen ridingon passing freight trains.

A further object. is the production of a device as mentioned which willbe of durable and economical construction and efiicient in use.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of partshereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a switch post attachment embodying theinvention, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device showing the sameapplied for use, the lower end portion of the device being broken awayto expose the spindle of the switch post.

The referred form of construction as illustrated in the drawingcomprises a socket forming member consisting of a circular base member 1which is adapted, when in use, to rest upon the upper end of the switchpost 2 in connection with which the device is employed. The member 1 isformed with a centrally positioned socket 3 square in cross sectionadapted to receive the upper end of the rotatably mounted spindle 4: ofthe switch post, said spindle, as is known,

being adapted for rotation in the setting of the target, the same beinglocked in adjusted position by means of lever 5 as is readily understoodby those skilled in the art.

normed integral with and projecting outwardly and upwardlv from the basemember 1 are four equally spaced arms 6 rigidly connected at their upperends by an integral annulus 7. The arms 6 and annulus 7 constitute thelateral walls of an upwardly opening socket which is adapted for thereception of the base portion of the signal lamp 8 in connection withwhich the device is employed. The arms 6 also serve as a means ofsupport for the two sets of switch blades 9 and 9 which are rigidlysecured to said arms by means of bolts and cooperating nuts 10. Saidarms 6 are so disposed and spaced that the signal blades will bepositioned at right angles to each other as is of course necessary inthe employment of the same for signaling purposes.

lVith the arrangement set forth it will be seen that an exceedinglycompact arrangement is produced or one where no space is wastedvertically, the base of the lamp being positioned in the same horizontalplane with the signal blades. This being so the switch target is reducedto a minimum height and thus the possibility of injury to the switchmenand brakemen as above referred to correspondingly reduced. Furthermorethe construction set forth is extremely simple and economical and hencemay be manufactured at a low cost, and is adapted for eflicient serviceas a switch target.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. In a switch target, the combination with the rotary spindle of aswitch post, of a socket operatively connected with the upper end ofsaid spindle adapted to receive the base portion of a signal lamp; andsignal blades connected with and radiating from the sides of saidsocket, substantially as described.

2. In a switch target, the combination with the rotary spindle of aswitch post, of a socket operatively connected with the upper end ofsaid spindle adapted to receive the base portion of a signal lamp; andsignal blades connected with and radiating from said socket, said bladesbeing positioned in the same horizontal plane as the base portion of thelamp positioned in said socket, substantially as described.

3. In a switch target, the combination with the rotary spindle of aswitch post, of a socket operatively connected with the upper end ofsaid spindle adapted to receive the base portion of a signal lamp, saidsocket comprising a base member adapted for 0})- erative connection withthe upper end of said spindle; outwardly and upwardly projecting arms onsaid base member; and an annulus constituting the lateral walls of saidsocket; and signal blades connected with said arms and projectingoutwardly therefrom, substantially as described.

4:. In a switch target, the combination with the rotary spindle of aswitch post, of a socket operatively connected with the upper end ofsaid spindle adapted to receive the base portlon of a signal lamp, saidsocket comprising a base member having an opening therein for engagementwith the upper of signal blades projecting outwardly from said member;and an upwardly opening socket in said member for the reception of thebase portion of a signal lamp, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM R. RYAN.

Witnesses:

JOSHUA R. H. POTJS, HELEN F. LILLIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner oi! Patents,

Washington, D. C.

